Bridging the Traceability R&D Gap: An Ontario Solution

Transcription

1 Bridging the Traceability R&D Gap: An Ontario Solution June 2, 2009

2 What is OnTrace? Not-for-profit, industry-led corporation dedicated to delivering food traceability systems & solutions We build infrastructure/foundations for others to use Focus in Ontario fit into National traceability framework Two compelling mandates Improve emergency management for government & industry Drive innovation to strengthen industry competitiveness & food brand equity We are focusing first on primary production; yet our vision includes the entire food chain and all products 2

3 OnTrace Goals Design & deliver traceability solutions to help industry & government better manage & respond to emergencies related to agriculture and food. Provide information, research & programs to enable agriculture and agri-food stakeholders to develop and use their own traceability solutions. Create the means for stakeholders to engage in a whole-chain dialogue (both human & electronic) about traceability & help them become more innovative and competitive. Become a self-sustaining business organization. 3

4 How is OnTrace Different? Industry-led organization not Government Voluntary industry commitment Collaborative role with OMAFRA Broadly based agriculture / agri-food focus Majority of Board of Directors are in agriculture Broad cross-section of stakeholders Whole-chain / whole-farm view to traceability ALL products.... Livestock and Horticulture Entire chain from the farm through to the consumer Not just emergency management, but also Value Traceability 4

5 What has OnTrace done? Launched the Ontario Agri-food Premises Registry (OAPR) Built from concept to final system in less than 15 months Public data combined with producer information Voluntary contributions from producers continue to grow Developed dialogue about traceability with partners Collaboration Primary producers Processors, Auction Barns, Feedlots, Packers Distributors & Transportation Retailers Governments Federal & Provincial Developed industry solutions for use in value traceability Web-based membership information management system Remote data collection tools Traceability assessments & certification 5

6 What have we observed? Still relatively little buy-in for traceability from industry Consumers demand for food confidence is rising Who pays? Awareness & communication of cost-benefit is weak Practical information is scattered and hard to access Accessing reliable information & results of previous work is tough Where do you go to research successes and lessons learned? Who has already developed a solution that works and can be applied? Confusion still persists on the nature of traceability Is it a tool? Is it just food safety? Big T versus Little T traceability Does it raise costs? Lower them? Does it strengthen accountability? Increase liability? Clearly a need for collaborative industry focus on traceability Trace in agriculture R&D 2009 and Winnipeg, agri-food. Manitoba 6

7 What are Gaps in R&D? Traceability systems remain insufficient Limited interoperability standards; little connection to international work Collaboration and sharing of learning across jurisdictions and between industry sectors Economic benefits? Opportunities for industry and government to practically prepare and strengthen our ability to manage emergencies Policy development on traceability and how it should be supported for emergency management 7

8 Addressing the R&D Gap Focal point for traceability is needed Collaborative Centre A go-to organization for traceability Knowledge / Visibility / Networks Encourage innovation, research, practical application, projects, education Specifically address traceability standards & certification Make traceability easier for industry and governments to use Provincial organization with regional & national connections Dialogue across the agriculture & agri-food supply chain Establish a common language Standard way of addressing traceability Enhance export development Raise industry competitiveness Solutions development & pre-commercialization help Funding options? 8

9 Partnerships that Work Discussions with industry, OMAFRA, academia, and others OnTrace helping create Ontario strategy/plan for traceability Industry Advisory Team helping build strategy & buy-in Five-year projected costs and revenues Self-sustaining in 2-3 years Partners: Intelliware Development Inc. Guelph Food Technology Centre University of Guelph Vineland Research & Innovation Centre 4 Key Business Areas identified Meet needs of industry & governments into future 9

10 Vision for Traceability R&D Competitive Development Industry Education & Outreach Traceability Collaborative Centre Technology Transfer & Pre-Commercialization Emergency Management & Bio-security Protocol Development 10

11 What's next? Getting Started Seek like-minded R&D partners and investors University of Guelph / Vineland Research & Innovation Centre Private enterprises? Intelliware Development / BioEnterprises Scan the market for similar centres Learning opportunities & networking Competitive threats to Ontario business Leverage existing infrastructures & allies to qualify customers Form a link to OIE and Codex Alimentarius Alliance with Canadian data services providers 11

12 Short Term Steps Continue to extend Ontario Agri-food Premises Registry (OAPR) Feedlots / Packing Houses Sales barns Processors Transportation Education & Outreach Raise understanding: Work with OMAFRA to deliver traceability courses Series of workshops for primary producers through to processors Establish the business case for each situation FSTI funding Build support for collaborative centre focused on traceability Looking for partners and willing participants Network, research, projects, conferences 12

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